Over the pacific ocean, flying above the massive body of water below, the cargo plane continued its journey to transport the rescued tony stark and yinsen back to stark industries at California, Los Angeles, while being escorted by multiple fighter jets commissioned from the military base by James Rhodes, in the passenger area, the reunited friends were talking more about their tale in captivity back in Afganistan,

"so you're telling me," said Rhodes, amazed by the armor crafted by tony and yinsen, "that you two made a arc reactor electromagnet for the shrapnel in your chest, and this entire suit of armor in a cave...with a box of scraps?"

"I'm just as surprised as you are, Rhodey," said Tony, still in his armor, "and that it actually works! All from a box of scraps..."

"and made a radio as well, powerful enough to reach our airwaves," said Rhodes "unbelievable!"

"but true, lieutenant colonel." nodded yinsen, "and I was forced to work for those men at the time."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Rhodes "hopefully, when we get back to stark industries, we'll figure what to do,"

"I've already decided on that rhodey," interjected tony.

"what's that, tony?" said Rhodes wondering what tony will do for yinsen

"I'll be arranging safe haven for yinsen, at the stark industries medical institute," said tony

"that's real big of you, tony," smiled Rhodes. "I'm sure yinsen here will be happy there."

"thank you, lieutenant colonel," nodded yinsen.

"hey, just call me Rhodes yinsen," said Rhodes

"as you wish," said yinsen.

"so tony," said Rhodes, "what happens when we get back?"

"When we get back," said Tony, "I'm shutting down the weapons division of stark industries."

"shutting it down?" said Rhodes "but why?"

"let's say the guys who attacked us had our company's weapons," said tony

"What!?" said Rhodes "how did they get a hold on stark weapons?"

"that's what I want to know," said Tony, "but I won't allow these guys to get more weapons."

"But what about stark industries' future?" asked Rhodes.

"yinsen told me, we have much more to offer this world than just making weapons," said Tony "for example, making the arc reactor a worldwide clean fuel resource."

"and other technological advancements?" asked Rhodes

"we'll work it out," nodded tony "once we get back..."

"I believe it to be so, Rhodes," said yinsen, "stark industries will have a newer direction to a brighter future than just weapons."

"thank you for your vote of confidence, yinsen," said Rhodes. "what about that armor, though?"

"oh, this?" asked Tony as he looked down at the armor, unsure of what to do with it, "I'm not sure if I can allow this to become public knowledge..."

"considering what you were hit with, it's understandable," said Rhodes. "this thing can't hide forever, though."

"I know," said Tony, picking up the nearby iron mask and looking at it, "maybe one day it will become public knowledge, but until then,"

"Please be careful when that day comes, Mr stark," said yinsen

"I just hope you know what you're doing, tony..." sighed Rhodes

"me too, Rhodey..." sighed tony, looking at the nearby window, wondering what will happen back at stark industries...

A few hours later, at sunset, over at the Las Angeles airport, the fighter jets pulled back to the nearest airbase, having accomplished their escort. As the cargo plane lands, the back hatch opened with tony, now free of his armor, yinsen and James Rhodes walking out, while Tony was pulling a large case that was containing the armor that he and yinsen crafted back in the cave,

"it feels good to be home," said Tony as he continued walking, pulling the armor case "what are mom and dad gonna say, though..."

"I'm certain something will work out, Mr stark," said yinsen, looking hopeful, though feeling strange to come to a new place to call home

"thank you, yinsen," smiled Tony, already thinking about what will happen after yinsen gets into the medical institute.

"Tony!" a female voice called out, running towards him. She had red hair, a beautiful face, and a professionally dressed coat. She then hugged tony in a sweet embrace.

"pepper!" cried tony cheerfully as he returned the hug to his personal assistant,

"I was so worried!!" cried pepper, muffled in tony's shoulder, "when I heard you got attacked and captured...I thought they..."

"They didn't kill me," reassured tony, but he knew that he had to tell the truth, "but I sure didn't leave unscathed either."

"wh-what do you mean?" worried pepper.

"don't worry, I'll explain on the way back," said Tony, knowing that now is not a good time to tell her about the shrapnel in his chest

"well, whatever it is, I'm glad you're safe," said pepper, then looked at yinsen "who is he, Tony?"

"This is professor ho yinsen, pepper." said tony

"how do you do, ms potts?" greeted yinsen with a smile.

"professor yinsen?" said pepper, "you mean one of the world's greatest physicists?"

"that would be me, ms potts," said yinsen, "but please just call me yinsen."

"I'm alright with that, yinsen," smiled pepper "good to see you too, Rhodes."

"the same to you, pepper." smiled Rhodes. "I'm glad we managed to rescue tony and yinsen when we did."

"They captured you too?" said pepper turning to yinsen

"yes, but that was a long time ago..." sighed yinsen, still recalling the memories of being taken from his home

"Hopefully, we'll talk more when we get back," said pepper, guiding tony to the nearby limousine "the company's waiting for you."

"let's not keep them waiting." smiled tony as he, pepper, yinsen, and Rhodes got into the limo car and raced off back to stark industries.

an hour later, after explaining everything to pepper, they arrived at the main building of stark industries where a crowd of people was cheering as tony stark exited the vehicle, with yinsen holding him up and with Rhodes and pepper walking out of the limo,

the group soon welcomed their CEO back after many days in captivity by the ten rings. Tony had reassured everyone of his return and announced that he has to make an announcement tomorrow at a press conference, after a day of rest, which the press gladly let him go,

the next day, the press came gathered around a stand at the press conference that tony stark had announced yesterday to explain what happened to him when he was captured and what happens in the future for stark industries. Pepper, Rhodes, and yinsen were at the back of the crowd looking on as tony stark went to the microphones and started his announcement,

"Hello," said tony stark, "thank you all for coming. this is a big day for everyone, and I'm glad to be back,"

The press began cheering and taking photos as many people were watching this event live on tv. Tony knew about this and that his parents may be watching, but he knows he has to be honest nonetheless, even in the face of the public,

"as you all know, I was kidnapped and attacked in Afganistan." began tony, his voice going through the microphone. "and it was the ten rings who did this"

The crowd shook. Many stories were told about the ten rings' attacks worldwide, even more of a shock that they would attack tony stark, the C.E.O.C.E.O. after his father, Howard.

"and what I'm about to say may put some doubts about my company my father built from the ground up," said Tony as he breathed for a minute. "I saw young American men and women killed by the very weapons, my company, my father and by extension, I, created to defend them and protect them,"

The crowd gasped again. Who could have gotten stark weapons to attack tony?

"those men that used our weapons were the ten rings," said Tony, "and many other people, in the wrong mind, could use them as well, and I saw that. by becoming C.E.O.C.E.O., I had become part of a system that is comfortable with ZERO accountability..."

"Mr stark!" called a reporter.

"yes?" asked tony

"What happened back there?" asked the reporter "what did they do to you?"

"When they attacked, they used my company's weapons to attack the convoy," confirmed tony. "I was barely lucky to be alive, but I didn't leave unscathed. Not only was I locked in a cave with my new friend yinsen, who was also captured, but I have shrapnel in my chest as well."

The crowd again felt their breath leave them at the news. On the other hand, Tony's friends already knew and hope that someday, he will get heart surgery to remove the shrapnel.

"the men forced yinsen to save my life with this electromagnet to keep the shrapnel away from my heart and presented an ultimatum," said Tony "either I make more stark weapons for them, or they torture us to death,"

"did you do it?" asked a reporter.

"no, but me and yinsen didn't stick around either," said Tony, "after we formulated a careful escape plan, we made it out of the ten ring's hands, yinsen nearly laid down his very life for me too, but thankfully we both made it out alive, and we were able to call for help."

The crowd was touched, especially pepper and Rhodes. Yinsen had nearly sacrificed his very life for tony, truly a noble action where no one could ask for more.

"Mr. Stark?" asked another reporter "since that incident and now that you're back, happens now?"

"While I was being held captive," began tony, "yinsen told me, like my father, that I could do great things, and that me, my father, and this company have much more to offer this world than just making weapons that people could use for their own ends in the wrong hands, so, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of stark international."

The crowd roared with shock and began mummering questions on what will happen next. Tony's friends were only a little shocked due to tony already telling them about this.

"until such a time as I can decide what the future of this company will be," continued Tony, "what direction it should take, one that we're comfortable with and is consistent with the highest good for this country as well. Thank you,"

Tony then walked down from the stand as he, along with security guards, tried to calm down the crowds in the room as he rejoined his friends, for as of now, they were on the road to a different future for stark industries...

In his main office, nearly alone, tony stark looked out the window overlooking the sun and the rest of the facility. He had recently assigned yinsen to the medical institute as promised. He, of course, had to fill out papers to the government to prevent an international incident so that yinsen would be safe from the ten rings in Afghanistan,

Meanwhile, Tony had his thoughts focused on his family. What will their reaction be to the fact that their son was kidnapped, has shrapnel in his heart, is on life support, and all by their company's weapon's hand?

"Sir," called a mechanical yet gentlemen-like voice. "you've received a text from Howard Stark a few minutes ago,"

"a text from dad?" asked Tony, turning around.

"yes, sir," the voice said again, "you can access it from your phone."

"thank you, Jarvis," said Tony as he opened his phone and opened the text

"of course, sir," said J.A.R.V.I.S. (just a rather intelligent system), a multi-functional software program capable of managing not only stark industries but also tony's mansion,

J.A.R.V.I.S was named after the late stark industries butler Edwin Jarvis, developed by Howard stark before he retired, after tony became CEO. He upgraded J.A.R.V.I.S from a U.I. to an A.I.

Tony opened the text from his father, and it read, "when you're done with work, please come back home. Mom and I are worried about you. Please tell us you're alright."

tony then typed a message back that he will be back as soon as he's finished with work today

"Jarvis, please remind me to go to mom and dad after work today," said tony

"will do, sir," said Jarvis

tony then put up his phone and got back to work, hoping to wrap up in time to get back home,

after finishing his work for the day, tony got on his personal red sports car and drove off to his parents' house. He knows that now that he's told the world about what happened, he must reassure his family, even though he's been CEO for some time, now, they still worry about their son.

A few hours later, tony arrived at his parent's house. He then got off the car and walked towards the house, only for the door to be opened by Howard Stark, who held a regretful and sorrowful face.

"dad..." said Tony, knowing what this means

"my son..." said Howard as he felt tears rush down his eyes

both father and son rushed towards each other and hugged, followed by maria stark joining the hug just outside the house, she too, shed tears of sorrow

"tony..." sobbed maria, tears rolling down her cheeks, "...my baby boy...."

"mom...dad..." sighed tony as he continued to hug them, "have I got a story for you..."

"please tell us everything inside..." sobbed Howard as they all entered the house

When they got inside the home, tony told his family everything about his tale in Afghanistan in captivity by the ten rings, including yinsen, the crafting of the armor, and their escape from the cave. Both Howard and maria were both horrified and amazed by their child's tale.

"an entire suit of armor," said Howard, "built from a box of scraps...and works!?"

"I'm just as amazed as you are dad," said Tony, "and even be able to craft this arc reactor on my chest."

"We always said you could do amazing things, tony," said Maria, "but never did I imagine you would be able to craft an arc reactor, an entire suit of armor, and a radio, from scraps!"

"I know, mom, I know..." said Tony, "and yinsen nearly gave up his very life for me in us escaping the ten rings..."

"and we couldn't be more thankful for your friend tony," nodded Howard "he seems to be such a selfless man..."

"yinsen's a true friend, dad," said Tony, "much like Rhodey."

"Yeah, but I'm worried about you right now," said Howard, "and that shrapnel in your chest."

"yeah, this electromagnet in my chest yinsen implanted in me is the only thing keeping it from killing me..." sighed tony. "I'm not sure how long that will last, though..."

"hopefully long enough for us to get you heart surgery..." said Howard as he lowered his head. "I blame myself for this, though..."

"But dad," said Tony, "you couldn't have known what would happen."

"but this was our company's weapons that did this to you," said Howard, "when your mother and I saw this on the news of your announcement, we were both in shock and devastated that our son was captured and had shrapnel in his chest, we're glad you made it back, but still..."

It was true, maria and Howard cried and hugged each other at the devastating news when the announcement was made. Tony looked down a bit.

"so, what about me shutting down the weapons?" said Tony. "I'm sorry if I let you down..."

"you haven't let me down, tony," said Howard, "I agree. We have much more to offer this world than just making weapons, as you said, like for example, the project I started, the arc reactor clean energy program,"

"and much more revolutionary technologies, my son," agreed maria stark, " if you and yinsen can create that armor, surely there can be much more..."

"thank you, mom, dad," said Tony. "I'm actually thinking about making more of that armor."

"more of that armor?" said Howard "but for who?"

"let's say. It's a personal project that I've been thinking of after completing that first armor that allows me and yinsen to escape the cave." said tony

"and you couldn't tell on tv, in case you were worried about that kind of armor being exploited," theorized Howard. "I understand."

"thank you, dad," said Tony. "I will be working on that new direction for stark industries. It's going to be a while, though..."

"as long as it helps people, that's alright with us, tony," smiled maria "what will you be using your armor idea for anyways?"

"I'll be using it to help people," said Tony "at least, I hope so."

"Are you sure?" said Howard "tony, I respect you want to help people and all, but that shrapnel could kill you while doing so if those men don't get you again."

"Please, we just got you back," said maria "we don't want to lose you again."

"don't worry, mom," said Tony, "we'll get that heart surgery taken care of, and besides, I won't be alone in this either."

"what do you mean?" said maria

"I'll have Jarvis, Rhodey, pepper, and yinsen," said Tony. "I understand your concern, but I feel like this is something I have to do."

"I understand, my son," said Howard, "you are your own person, and you have your own life to live. But please be careful. Your mother and I worry about you deeply, and I know you will be a better CEO than I ever was..."

"Please be careful, my son," said Maria as she hugged tony, her son

"make us proud, my son," said Howard, joining the hug

"thank you, mom, dad," said Tony, returning the hug, already optimistic about the future...

the next day, at his garage at his personal home in malibu, overlooking the edge of a cliff at the ocean, tony stark was typing on his computer, looking over the blueprints of the armor he and yinsen created, having been digitalized into a document,

"Jarvis, are you up?" asked Tony as he typed on his computer.

"for you, sir, always," chimed Jarvis

"that's great to hear," smiled Tony. "I'd like to file a new project, indexed as mark 2."

"shall I store this on the stark industries central database, sir?" asked Jarvis.

"actually, I'm not sure who to trust right now," said Tony, "except pepper, rhodey, and yinsen until further notice. Let's keep everything on the private server. Only my friends can access it."

"very good sir," said Jarvis, "I shall provide security so that only you, ms potts, Mr. Rhodes, and professor yinsen shall access it,"

"thank you, Jarvis," said Tony as he dragged the 3D model of his previous armor onto a hologram table and walked over to it

"of course, sir," chimed Jarvis.

"and now..." said Tony as he began rearranging some parts of the 3D model of his previous armor after making a duplicate, to a more humanoid and streamlined version of the armor,

"let's began mark 2."